Suspect Arrested After Lurking Around Closed Businesses

Click to enlarge

Stopping crime before it happens, or being "proactive" as we say in law enforcement.  That is just what one of our officers was doing at 2 am on January 16th, when he noticed a white Chevy truck trolling the parking lot of closed businesses at Greenfield and McKellips.  Our officer, out of The Red Mountain Patrol District, got into a position where he could watch this individual without being seen.  The truck seemed to amble about the lot, slowing near businesses (which were closed) until it backed into a parking space in front of a Verizon Wireless store.

After only a couple of minutes, inexplicably, the truck drove off at a high rate of speed onto the roadway.  Our officer initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle for a traffic violation and contacted 37 year-old Rafael Luis Valenzuela.  Valenzuela was in possession of Marijuana and drug paraphernalia, for which he was arrested.  Inside the vehicle was a box of latex gloves and numerous tools, to include multiple lock/bolt cutters. 

Valenzuela gave no reason for being in Mesa, at 2 AM, in a parking lot full of closed businesses and gave a Phoenix address as his residence, before refusing further interview. A history check revealed Valenzuela had a criminal history of numerous burglaries in the Phoenix area.  So, a shout out to Officer Stoddard for some excellent, proactive police work. Way to represent brother!!!

Kindergarten Teacher Booked on 25 Counts of Indecent Exposure

Photo of Suspect, Thomas Washburn

A Mesa Kindergarten teacher has been arrested and booked for 25 counts of Indecent Exposure and one count of Child Abuse stemming from an incident in his classroom. Thomas Washburn, age 54, teaches Kindergarten at Adams Elementary School in Mesa where the incident occurred on January 15, 2014.

The victim, a 6-year-old female, was in class with 24 classmates on the afternoon of January 15. Washburn was reportedly upset and shouting in the class causing the victim to hide her face in the top of her shirt. The victim's mother described her daughter as "developmentally delayed" due to being born prematurely. It appears that based on shouting, the child was frightened and hiding in her shirt. When Washburn told her to take her face out of the shirt and she did not comply, he went to her and completely removed her shirt, leaving her naked from the waist up. The victim was left in that state for approximately 10 minutes crying as class continued. Eventually Washburn returned her clothing and that was the end of the incident.

When the victim's mother arrived after school to pick up the child, Washburn told the parent what he had done. She was extremely upset and immediately contacted the Principal's office. When staff learned of the incident, they contacted our department and the investigation was opened. Detectives interviewed the victim and her mother and confirmed what had happened. Washburn was at school late due to conferences and was contacted by detectives. He was transported to Mesa Police Headquarters to be interviewed. Washburn invoked his rights and declined to answer any questions. He was booked at that time for one count of Child Abuse and one count of Indecent Exposure C1M. At the time of the incident, there was one adult aide in the classroom.

This morning, detectives continued the investigation and ultimately added an additional 24 counts of Indecent Exposure C4F for each of the students present at the time of the incident. This investigation is ongoing, but at this time we unaware of any similar crimes of this nature in the classroom.

Mesa Public Schools and the Mesa Police Department are working cooperatively on the investigation to ensure that all available information is gathered and to ensure the safe education of the children attending the Mesa Public Schools.

Officer Assaulted with Motorcycle Helmet

On Jan. 13 at 11:15 p.m., Mesa officers responded to the McDonald’s restaurant near Mesa Dr. and University in reference to a suspect planning to commit theft inside the restaurant. Officers arrived and made contact with the suspect, 23 year-old Oscar Garcia. After speaking with him, officers released Garcia. When officers were leaving the scene, Garcia jumped in front of a patrol car in an attempt to be hit; Garcia was not hit or injured.  

Having a motorcycle helmet in hand, Garcia swung the helmet in effort to shatter the front headlight of the patrol car. When officers exited their vehicles to arrest him for attempted criminal damage, Garcia began swinging his helmet, striking an officer in the side. When Garcia resisted arrest, a .22 caliber semi-automatic handgun fell from his waistband.

Good job by our officers taking Garcia into custody without injury to officers or suspect. Garcia was booked for attempted criminal damage, aggravated assault and resisting arrest.  

Driver Flees after Smashing into Pontoon Boats at the Mesa Bass Pro Shop

Click on image to enlarge.

 On Jan. 11 at 8:40 a.m., Mesa officers responded to the Bass Pro Shop at Mesa Riverview reference to a hit and run investigation. Employees had discovered several damaged Sun Tracker pontoon boats outside of the store. Initial property damage was estimated to be an excess of $100,000. Evidence from the scene suggest this occurred between 1 a.m. to 2 a.m. and the suspect vehicle to be a light colored Ford SUV or truck with a Triton V10 engine. The suspect vehicle fled the scene, leaving a trail of fluids that led to the 202 freeway.  The suspect vehicle likely sustained heavy front end damage.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call Mesa PD (480) 644-2211 and select option 2.

24 Hour Exceptional Incident Report

On January 9 at 12:39am, officers were dispatched to the 1800 block of North Sundial reference a traffic accident. It was learned that an intoxicated male left the roadway and collided into a residence. The accident caused major damage to the suspect's car and the victim's garage. The male was later arrested for a number of DUI-related charges.

24 Hour Exceptional Incident Report

Aggravated Assault - DV / Child Abuse
On January 7 at 10:11 pm, officers responded to the 1800 block of East Covina reference a family fight call where an adult female with a knife was allegedly chasing a male holding a baby. When officers arrived, the female had gone back inside the apartment. Officers talked to the male, who had two young children with him. Eventually officers were able to get the female to exit the apartment; she was taken into custody. Upon investigation, it was determined that the female and male lived together and had one child in common. They got into an argument and, as the male tried to leave with the two young children, they got into a scuffle. The female allegedly attacked the male with a knife, while he was holding their 10-month-old son. The baby had a red mark on his forehead, which the male claimed was from the female attacking him. The baby was examined by paramedics and the female was booked into jail for Aggravated Assault-DV and Child Abuse.

Burglary
On January 8 at 2:30 am, a male suspect removed the screen and rear window to a residence in the 2100 block of East Bramble. The suspect entered the residence and rummaged through the master bedroom dresser while the victim was sleeping. The elderly victim was woken up by the suspect's flashlight. The suspect then punched the victim in the face and fled the residence with a dresser drawer and numerous items of property, including jewelry.

Suspect Arrested in Park and Ride

The victim in the homicide from December 28, 2013 has been identified as William A. Bishop, 57, from Tempe, Arizona.

Bishop was a cab driver working overnight waiting for fares at the Park and Ride station located at Sycamore and Main in Mesa. At approximately 12:41 am, Bishop was using the restroom when he was assaulted by the suspect, Ricardo A. Ramirez, 20. Bishop suffered multiple stab wounds and later died at the hospital.

Based on information from witnesses, Ramirez was located a short distance from the crime scene and taken into custody. Witnesses later told detectives that prior to the assault, Rodriguez had made comments about working for Satan and being there to collect souls. Ramirez was interviewed and stated he had been drinking and blacked out prior to the assault.

Ramirez was booked on one count of First Degree Homicide.

Husband's ashes stolen from Mesa Widow

On Sunday, December 15, a Mesa widow received a tear-jerking phone call from her realtor, that her home had been burglarized. The realtor advised the homes contents were taken within the last 24 hours as the realtor had shown the home the day before.

The home was nearly completely cleaned out. The notable items missing were two televisions and a washer and dryer. Among the significant items taken, our victim’s belated husband’s cremated ashes were also stolen. The victim’s late husband was a Korean War Veteran and retired Maryland Police Officer. The husband passed away in 2001, after 39 years of married.    

While this investigation is still ongoing, PLEASE submit any information regarding to this incident by calling (480) 644-2211 and select option 2.   

8 Year-Old Girl Escapes After Being Abducted By Stranger

On Sunday, December 22nd, at approximately 1:00 PM, an 8 year-old Hispanic girl was taken by a stranger, while she was out riding her bicycle.  The suspect forced the victim into the front seat of his vehicle and sped away.  For the ensuing approximate 10 minutes, our department held its breath and our patrol officers flooded the area of 450 S. Valencia.  Thankfully, this abduction was witnessed by two young women driving in the area.  These observant and brave women immediately began chasing after the suspect, screaming for people to call 9-1-1.  They eventually lost sight of the fleeing suspect vehicle, but were able to flag down an officer in the area.

Then a call was received advising that a car, matching our suspect vehicle's description, had crashed in an alley not far from the abduction site.  A nearby officer immediately responded to find the little girl running toward him from an alleyway.  The little girl was frightened and received minor injuries from the accident, but was otherwise unharmed.  The suspect had apparently fled on foot.

Mesa Patrol Officers saturated the area, immediately setting up a perimeter around the entire neighborhood. Information from the witnesses and victim was transmitted to all units in the area.  At approximately 1:45 PM, officers located the suspect, later identified as 22 year-old Robert C. Milliron, exiting a nearby business. He was taken into custody after a brief struggle with officers.

I can tell you, there are few investigations that affect a community and police department like those involving innocent children victims.  Today, a little girl is safely reunited with her family and a suspect is behind bars.  Were it not for the keen awareness and brave actions of these two witnesses, this situation may have turned out tragically different. Their bravery will be recognized.  Well done ladies. Well done.
   

Citizens Help Police Nab Suspect

On December 17 at 9:15 am, one of our patrol officers stopped a vehicle in the area of Mesa Drive and Brown Road for a traffic violation. The vehicle pulled into an apartment complex and, as our officer was exiting his patrol car to approach the vehicle, it sped away onto Mesa Drive.

 By the time our officer got back to his vehicle and onto the roadway, the vehicle was out of sight. However, there were other vehicles on the road and those helpful citizens indicated the vehicle fled westbound on Brown Road. As our officer reached Center/Brown additional citizens directed the officer to northbound Center Street. The vehicle was eventually located, abandoned in the 1500 block of North Center Street. Additional officers were in the area and the driver was located hiding in a shed in a residential back yard in the 1500 block of North Pima. 

Ultimately, the driver, identified as Trevor Allen Terry (25), was taken into custody on a burglary warrant out of MCSO and an FTA warrant out of Mesa, which is why he said he ran. He was also charged with trespassing. Were it not for our citizens assisting our officers, we likely would have not located this subject. Thank you Mesa! What a great team we make!